Cooking or sterilizing machine



W. B. FENN.

COOKING 0R STERILIZING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED APR.21.1913.

1,377,245. Patented May 10, 192.1.

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COOKING 0R STERILIZING MACHINE. 7 APPLICATION FILED APILZI, |9l3 71,377,245, 7 Patented May 10, 1921.

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COOKING OR S TERILIZING MACHINE.

Patented May 10, 1921.

Application filed a' ru 21, 1913. Serial No. 762,555.

lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Cooking or Steriliz ing' Machines,of which the following is a specifications Y The object of thisinvention is to provide an improved machine for sterilizing or cookingperishable materials and especially foods, as for example, corn cutfromthe cob, tomatoes, peas, etc. My object more particu- 'larly is toprovide a construction in which the cooking or sterilizing is effectedthoroughly and more quickly and to this end I as herein shown,instrumentalities whereby the cooking or sterilizing agent is deliveredfrom a device having motion and whereby more room is provided for the exansion and agitation of the materials than is provided by thecontainer-in which they are placed in the machine for treatment.

The invention is embodied in the example herein shown and described, thefeatures of 1 novelty being pointed out in the claims appended to thedescription.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a central vertical section ofthe machine. g

Fi 2 is a horizontal section on the line :v-w ig. 1. 1

Fig. 3 isa vertical section through one of the scrapers.

. Fig. 4 is a plan view of afraction of a sterilizingi machineillustrating means for e rotation of the shafts and the causing t theycarry used in the treatmg members chamben,

In the views 10 designates a cylindrical receiver having a hollow head11 secured thereto by bolts like that at 12 and forming a Secured to thelower side-of the head 11' within the receiver is a wall 13 having adownwardly projecting perforated rim or wall13 and within and parallelto said rim or wall an \imperforate wall or rim 13". Threaded onto thelower edge of the rim 13 isa horizontal wall 15 that, around its center,is provided with numerous perforations 15 forming a screen, The spacebetween the walls '13 and '15 may be said to be a steam eductionchamber. The upper side'of the wall 15 ,is tapered toward its center.The lower side of the wall. 15 is provided with a downwardly extendingcylindrical wall 16 of somewhat smaller diameter thanthat of the wall15' so as to provide a space around it. Threaded into the rim of thewall 15 is a thin wall or cylinder 17 fitting within the cylindricalreceiver 10, said cylinder 17 "having an inwardly projecting flange l7forming a stop. There is thus provided between the walls 16 and 17 anannular. chamber in which fits a cylindrical body. 18 having at itsupper end an outwardly projecting flange 18 capable of abutting againstand being stopped by the flange 17 when said body 18 is caused orpermitted to descend. The upper end of the cylinder 17 is perforated at17 to admit ressure to operate on the body 18' as heremafter described.The lower end of said body 18 has an annular seat 18* and a flaredportion 18 leading to said seat to properly dlrect or adjust the can sothat the annular seat 18 shall fit closely thereonwhen the parts are inposition for the cooking or sterilizing operation. 19 designates a canor receptacle which is shown in the described position. The can orreceptacle is shown as supported upon a holder 2Q adapted to close thelower end of the receiver, a packing ring being shown at 21 to make theclosure tight.

Supported between suitable collars in a suitable bearing at 22 isa shaft23 that extends axially of the receiver, through a suitable stufling boxon the head 11 into the steam inductlon chamber 11. Threaded onto thelower end of the shaft 23 in the induction chamber is a vertical tube 24that extends through the wall 13 into the aforedescribed educt1on"chamber. Said tube 24 is perforated in that portion standing in. theinduction chamber to admit steam to it, and in that portion standing inthe eduction chamber said tube is provided with a downwardly flaredpetticoat screen or bafiie 25. The lower margin of the petticoat liesrather close to the upper side of the wall 15.

Threaded into the lower end of the tube 24 is along vertical nozzle 26perforated at numerous oints and provided with several lateralhorizontal tubular branches '27 also permitted to the nozzle 26 is alsoadmitted to the lateral branches 27 and jets from both.

The upper portion'of thenozzle 26 just below the horlzontal perforatedwall 15 is provided .with two horizontally extending tubular branches 28each of which has a scrapingedge or blade 28 (see Fig. 3) that liesclose to the lower side of the wall 15- As will be explained laterherein the branches 28 are swung around and below the lower side of thewall for the purpose of keeping that wall clear of matters adapted toclog the holes therein. This result is also aided by the upwardlyinclined perforations 28 through which steam is ejected against thelower side of the wall. Secured to each of the extremities of thetubular branches 28 is'a vertically arranged knife or scraper 29 workingon the inner side of the cylindrical wall 16,. for the purpose ofkeeping it clean, said knives or scrapers being inclined toward saidwall with their forward edges nearer the wall so as to increase theireffectiveness for this purpose. The shaft 23 above the stuffing box onthe head 11 is provided with a sprocket wheel 30 to engage asprocket-chain 31by which the said shaft and the members carried by itare rotated. It is my present purpose to employ several of these cookingor sterilizing chambers arranged in a circular series to be carriedaround a central valve through which a supply of steam or othersterilizing agent can be passed or controlled to each of the chambers. Ihave described and shown such a machine in an application for patentofthe United States, filed May 2, 1912, S. No. 694,716. Because thechambers are moved the chain may be held stationary and the motionimparted to the shaft 23 may be sufiicient, depending on the motion ofthe series of chambers, but the motion of the shaft can be increased asdesired by driving the chain at the necessary speed in a directioncontrary to that of the series of chambers, and conversely if the .speedof the series of,chambers be so reat as to impart too much speed to thes afts 23 the speed can be diminished by driving the chain in adirection coinciding with that of the chambersto secure the desiredspeed of the shafts 23. v In Fig. 4 is illustrated an arrangement of thechain to drive fewer than the whole number of the shafts 23. Thisarrangement is desirable because it is unnecessary and perhapsinconvenient that the shafts 23 be operated while a chamber is beingsupplied with a can of material to be treated or while a can that hasbeen treated is being removed.

32 designates a threaded hole for connecting the steam supply pipe tothe induction chamber. 33 is a similar hole for connect ing an exhaustpipe, which pipe, as in the construction described in my aforesaidformer application for patent can lead to the induction chamber of anadjoining receiver. 34 designates a similar hole for admitting steampressure to cause the member 18 to follow the can down and permit thesettling of the material treated in the can. 35 designates a similarhole for the admission of pressure about the exterior of the can tooffset thatin the interior of the can and prevent possible rupturethereof by the interior pressure of the treating agent.

In practice my present purpose is to use steam as the cooking orsterilizing agent but any other suitable gaseous sterilizing agent canbe used. The can containing the material to be treated is placed on thesupport 20 and that member raised to close the re-.

' into the cavity of the cylinder 16 and the rotation of the nozzle andits branches insures the thorough penetration of all parts of thematerial by the steam. The vertical knives tend to keep the walls of thecylinder 16 clear of the material and the horizontal scrapers 28 andsteam from branches 28 tend to keep the perforations 15 clear ofmaterial so that steam can issue to the eduction chamber. The petticoatscreen 25 tends to clarify the steam passing into the eductionchamber,,the fluids returning through perforations 15 to the can. Thebattle wall 13 and the perforated wall 13 supplement the petticoatbafile in clarifying the exhaust.

What I claim is I 1. In sterilizing means, the combination with areceptacle for the material to be sterilized,1of a perforated nozzlethrough which the sterilizing agent is applied to the material in thereceptacle, said nozzle and receptacle being adapted to have relativevertical movement to bring the nozzle into or out of the receptacle, andmeans for rotating the nozzle during the sterilizing operation. 4

2. In sterilizing means, the combination with a receptacle for thematerial to be sterilized, of a nozzle having a laterally extendingperforated branch through which the sterilizing agent is applied to thematerial in the receptacle, said nozzle and receptacle being adapted tohave relative vertical movement to bring the nozzle into or out of thereceptacle, and means for rotating the ilized, of a nozzle having aplurality of laterally extending perforated branches through which thesterilizing agent is ap- 139 plied to the material in the receptacle,said nozzle and receptacle being adapted to have relative verticalmovement to bring the nozzle into or out of the receptacle, and meansfor rotating the nozzle.

4. In sterilizin means, the combination with a receiver, 0 means in thereceiver for holding a vessel containing the material to be sterilizedand walls forming a chamber in the receiver above the vessel into whichthe material in the vessel can rise.

5. In sterilizin means, the combination with a receiver, 0 means in thereceiver for holding a vessel containing the material to receiver abovethe vessel into which the material in the vessel can rise, and a nozzlehaving a perforated lateral branch for applying the sterilizing agentmounted to turn in said chamber.

7 In sterilizing means, the combination with a receiver, of means in thereceiver for holding a vessel containing the material tov be sterilized,walls forming a chamber in the receiver above the vessel into which thematerial in the vessel can rise, a rotary perforated nozzle for applyingthe sterilizing agent to the material and means for removingaccumulating material from the wall of said chamber.

8. In sterilizin means, the combination with a receiver, 0 means in thereceiver for holding a vessel containing the material to be sterilized,walls forming a chamber in the receiver above the vessel into which thematerial in the vessel can rise, the upper of said walls. beingperforated, a nozzle for applying the sterilizing agent to the material,and means for removing material accumulating on said upper wall.

9. In sterilizing means, the combination with a receiver, of means inthe receiver for holding a vessel containing the material to besterilized, walls forming a chamber in the receiver above the vesselinto which the material in the vessel can rise, the upper of said wallsbeing erforated, a nozzle for applying the sterilizing agent to thematerial, and means for removing material accumulating on said wallconsisting of a rotated laterally extending tube having a jettingperforation inclined toward said wall and ascraping device to cooperatetherewith.

10. In sterilizing means, the combination with a receiver, of. means inthe receiver for holding a vessel containing the material to besterilized,wa11s forming a chamber in and providing a the receiver abovethe vessel into which the material in the vessel can rise, the upper ofsaid walls being perforated, means in said chamber for applying thesterilizing agent to the material, an eduction chamber in the receiverabove said upper perforated wall, and a perforated bafiie in saideduction chamber abovesaid perforated wall.

11; In sterilizing means of the kind described, a receiver for thematerial to be sterilized having a treating chamber and "receivers forapplying the sterilizing agent to said material, means for rotating allof said rotary devices but fewer than the whole number simultaneously.

13. Apparatus for sterilizing material comprising a means for supplyinga sterilizing agent to the material in the vessel chamber in which thematerial may expand, said chamber having an opening approximately equalto the cross section of the vessel. I

14. Sterilizing apparatus comprlsing means for directly introducingsteam to the product, a chamber into which the product may rise, -anormally open outlet for the steam, and a separator to remove moisturefrom the steam flowing from said chamber.

15. Apparatus for sterilizing material, comprising a means for supplyinga sterilizing agent under pressure and adapted to agitate the material,and automatic means for introducing said means into the material.

16. Apparatus for sterilizing material, comprising a receptacle for thematerial, a chamber, and automatic means for presenting said chamber tosaid receptacle to permit the material to expand therein.

17. Apparatus for sterilizing material in a vessel, comprising means forengaging the open end of the vessel, said means being chambered topermit the material to rise therein, means for supplying a sterilizingagent in such a manner as to cause such material to rise, and means forfreeing the chamber of such material after it has risen.

18. Apparatus for sterilizing material in a vessel, comprising means forengaging the open end of the vessel, said means being chambered topermit the material to rise therein and the wall of said chamber beingperforated, means for supplying a treating fluid under pressure, meansfor releasing such pressure agent after treatment through ing agent, andmeans for bafiiing the liquid the aforesaid perforations. from the fluidtreating agent when the lat- 1'9. Apparatus for sterilizing material inter agent is released. a vessel, comprising means for engaging theWILLIAM B. FENN. 5 open end of the vessel, said means being Witnesses:

chambered to permit the material to rise BENJAMIN FINOKEL,

therein, means for supplying a fluid treat- GEORGE M. FINCKEL.

